From: Medication management support in diabetes: a systematic assessment of diabetes self-management apps
Classification | App features | All apps (n = 143) (%) | Android (n = 81) (%) | iOS (n = 62) (%) | p value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planning and organisation | 1.1 | The app has a feature that allows the user to display scheduled medications as different visual compartments (e.g. visual pillbox in the app) | 7 (4.9) | 4 (4.9) | 3 (4.8) | 1.000^ |
1.2 | The app has a feature that allows the user to switch between daily and weekly medication schedule displays | 4 (2.8) | 3 (3.7) | 1 (1.6) | 0.633^ | |
1.3 | The app has a feature that allows the user to schedule medication-taking on alternate days (e.g. Pill A on Monday, Wednesday, Friday; Pill B on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) | 37 (25.9) | 24 (29.6) | 13 (21.0) | 0.241 | |
1.4 | The app has a feature to enter the purpose of the medication | 42 (29.4) | 22 (27.2) | 20 (32.3) | 0.507 | |
1.5 | The app has a feature that allows the user to enter special instructions for medication (e.g. taken before food) | 57 (39.9) | 33 (40.7) | 24 (38.7) | 0.806 | |
1.6 | The app has a feature that allows the user to organise “take as needed” medications in a separate section from medicines with a fixed regimen | 12 (8.4) | 6 (7.4) | 6 (9.7) | 0.628 | |
1.7 | The app has a feature that allows the user to enter/log at least 4 different medications at any given time | 98 (68.5) | 56 (69.1) | 42 (67.7) | 0.859 | |
1.8 | The app has a variety of dosage input options (e.g. subcutaneous insulin for diabetes, oral medications) | 123 (86.0) | 66 (81.5) | 57 (91.9) | 0.074 | |
1.9 | The app has a feature that allows the user to document allergies (i.e. via prompts/greyed out instructions or a separate tab) | 5 (3.5) | 4 (4.9) | 1 (1.6) | 0.389^ | |
1.10 | The app has a feature that allows the user to sync medication-taking schedule with the phone calendar | 7 (4.9) | 2 (2.5) | 5 (8.1) | 0.239^ | |
Monitoring and adherence | 2.1 | The app has a feature that allows the user to record the fraction of an actual pill or volume of a liquid medication prescribed (i.e. ½ pill or 5 ml of syrup) to be recorded. | 83 (58.0) | 45 (55.6) | 38 (61.3) | 0.491 |
2.2 | The app has a feature that allows users to document medication-intake | 112 (78.3) | 57 (70.4) | 55 (88.7) | 0.008* | |
2.3 | The app has a feature that allows users to record notes on any medication event (i.e. a “note/comment” section at the logging page or as a separate tab) | 70 (49.0) | 35 (43.2) | 35 (56.5) | 0.116 | |
2.4 | The app has a feature that allows users to document medication side-effects (i.e. via prompts/greyed-out instructions or a separate tab) | 5 (3.5) | 4 (4.9) | 1 (1.6) | 0.389^ | |
2.5 | The app has a feature that assesses medication adherence by comparing planned and actual medication taking (e.g. the app generates weekly percentage of adherence or has a visual display). | 24 (16.8) | 17 (21.0) | 7 (11.3) | 0.175 | |
Information provision | 3.1 | The app has a feature that provides users with information about the prescribed medication | 12 (8.4) | 6 (7.4) | 6 (9.7) | 0.628 |
3.2 | The app has a feature that provides users with resources (in-app or external link) to access information about the prescribed medication | 8 (5.6) | 4 (4.9) | 4 (6.5) | 0.727^ | |
Complementary medicines | 4.1 | The app has a feature that asks users about the use of complementary medicines | 2 (1.4) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (3.2) | 0.186^ |
4.2 | The app has a feature that flags possible contraindications with the use of complementary medicines | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000^ | |
Reminders | 5.1 | The app has a feature that allows users to set up reminders for taking medications | 83 (58.0) | 47 (58.0) | 36 (58.1) | 0.996 |
5.2 | The app has a feature that allows users to set up reminders to refill prescriptions | 9 (11.1) | 6 (9.7) | 15 (10.5) | 0.782 | |
Motivation | 6.1 | The app has a feature that provides statements to motivate users about the importance of medication adherence | 8 (5.6) | 3 (3.7) | 5 (8.1) | 0.293^ |
6.2 | The app has a feature that provides encouragement when medication is taken on schedule (i.e. encouraging messages, “badges or awards”) | 6 (4.2) | 3 (3.7) | 3 (4.8) | 1.000^ | |
Caregiver’s involvement | 7.1 | The app has a feature that allows users to sync medication-taking schedule with caregiver’s phone | 9 (6.3) | 5 (6.2) | 4 (6.5) | 1.000^ |
7.2 | The app has a feature that supports multiple user profiles (e.g. For family members or carers) | 22 (15.4) | 11 (13.6) | 11 (17.7) | 0.494 | |
Communication with healthcare provider | 8.1 | The app has a feature that allows users to contact a healthcare provider regarding queries on medication | 16 (11.2) | 7 (8.6) | 9 (14.5) | 0.269 |
Communication with health system | 9.1 | The app has a feature that supports data export | 89 (62.7) | 44 (55.0) | 45 (72.6) | 0.036* |